Abstract: Nanowire structures having non-discrete source and drain regions are described. For example, a semiconductor device includes a plurality of vertically stacked nanowires disposed above a substrate. Each of the nanowires includes a discrete channel region disposed in the nanowire. A gate electrode stack surrounds the plurality of vertically stacked nanowires. A pair of non-discrete source and drain regions is disposed on either side of, and adjoining, the discrete channel regions of the plurality of vertically stacked nanowires.

Abstract: Vertical integration schemes and circuit elements architectures for area scaling of semiconductor devices are described. In an example, an inverter structure includes a semiconductor fin separated vertically into an upper region and a lower region. A first plurality of gate structures is included for controlling the upper region of the semiconductor fin. A second plurality of gate structures is included for controlling the lower region of the semiconductor fin. The second plurality of gate structures has a conductivity type opposite the conductivity type of the first plurality of gate structures.

Abstract: Integrated circuit structures including increased transistor source/drain (S/D) contact area using a sacrificial S/D layer are provided herein. The sacrificial layer, which includes different material from the S/D material, is deposited into the S/D trenches prior to the epitaxial growth of that S/D material, such that the sacrificial layer acts as a space-holder below the S/D material. During S/D contact processing, the sacrificial layer can be selectively etched relative to the S/D material to at least partially remove it, leaving space below the S/D material for the contact metal to fill. In some cases, the contact metal is also between portions of the S/D material. In some cases, the contact metal wraps around the epi S/D, such as when dielectric wall structures on either side of the S/D region are employed. By increasing the S/D contact area, the contact resistance is reduced, thereby improving the performance of the transistor device.

Abstract: Stacked finFET structures including a fin having at least a first layer of semiconductor material stacked over or under a second layer of semiconductor material. The first and second layers may include a Group IV semiconductor material layer and a Group III-V semiconductor material layer, for example. A stacked finFET may include an N-type finFET stacked over or under a P-type finFET, the two finFETs may have channel portions within the different semiconductor material layers. Channel portions of the first and second layers of semiconductor material may be coupled to separate gate electrodes that are vertically aligned. Channel portions of the first and second layers of semiconductor material may be vertically separated by subfin portions of the first and second layers. Different layers of dielectric material adjacent to the subfin portions may improve electrical isolation between the channel portions, for example as a source of fixed charge or impurity dopants.

Abstract: Fin doping, and integrated circuit structures resulting therefrom, are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor fin. A lower portion of the semiconductor fin includes a region having both N-type dopants and P-type dopants with a net excess of the P-type dopants of at least 2E18 atoms/cm3. A gate stack is over and conformal with an upper portion of the semiconductor fin. A first source or drain region is at a first side of the gate stack, and a second source or drain region is at a second side of the gate stack opposite the first side of the gate stack.

Abstract: Integrated circuit structures including a buried etch-stop layer to help control transistor source/drain depth are provided herein. The buried etch-stop layer addresses the issue of the source/drain etch (or epi-undercut (EUC) etch) going below the bottom of the active height of the channel region, as such an issue can result in un-controlled sub-fin leakage that causes power consumption degradation and other undesired performance issues. The buried etch-stop layer is formed below the channel material, such as in the epitaxial stack that includes the channel material, and acts to slow the removal of material after the channel material has been removed when etching to form the source/drain trenches. In other words, the buried etch-stop layer includes different material from the channel material that can be etched, for at least one given etchant, at a relatively slower rate than the channel material to help control the source/drain trench depth.

Abstract: Isolation schemes for gate-all-around (GAA) transistor devices are provided herein Integrated circuit structures including increased transistor source/drain contact area using a sacrificial source/drain layer are provided herein. In some cases, the isolation schemes include changing the semiconductor nanowires/nanoribbons in a targeted channel region between active or functional transistor devices to electrically isolate those active devices. The targeted channel region is referred to herein as a dummy channel region, as it is not used as an actual channel region for an active or functional transistor device. The semiconductor nanowires/nanoribbons in the dummy channel region can be changed by converting them to an electrical insulator and/or by adding dopant that is opposite in type relative to surrounding source/drain material (to create a p-n junction).

Abstract: Stacked finFET structures including a fin having at least a first layer of semiconductor material stacked over or under a second layer of semiconductor material. The first and second layers may include a Group IV semiconductor material layer and a Group III-V semiconductor material layer, for example. A stacked finFET may include an N-type finFET stacked over or under a P-type finFET, the two finFETs may have channel portions within the different semiconductor material layers. Channel portions of the first and second layers of semiconductor material may be coupled to separate gate electrodes that are vertically aligned. Channel portions of the first and second layers of semiconductor material may be vertically separated by subfin portions of the first and second layers. Different layers of dielectric material adjacent to the subfin portions may improve electrical isolation between the channel portions, for example as a source of fixed charge or impurity dopants.

Abstract: Stacked transistor structures and methods of forming same. In an embodiment, a stacked transistor structure has a wide central pedestal region and at least one relatively narrower channel region above and/or below the wider central pedestal region. The upper and lower channel regions are configured with a non-planar architecture, and include one or more semiconductor fins, nanowires, and/or nanoribbons. The top and bottom channel regions may be configured the same or differently, with respect to shape and/or semiconductor materials. In some cases, an outermost sidewall of one or both the top and/or bottom channel region structures, is collinear with an outermost sidewall of the wider central pedestal region. In some such cases, the outermost sidewall of the top channel region structure is collinear with the outermost sidewall of the bottom channel region structure. Top and bottom transistor structures (NMOS/PMOS) may be formed using the top and bottom channel region structures.

Abstract: Neighboring gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having a conductive contact stressor between epitaxial source or drain regions are described. In an example, a first vertical arrangement of nanowires and a second vertical arrangement of nanowires above a substrate. A first gate stack is over the first vertical arrangement of nanowires. A second gate stack is over the second vertical arrangement of nanowires. First epitaxial source or drain structures are at ends of the first vertical arrangement of nanowires. Second epitaxial source or drain structures are at ends of the second vertical arrangement of nanowires. An intervening conductive contact structure is between neighboring ones of the first epitaxial source or drain structures and of the second epitaxial source or drain structures. The intervening conductive contact structure imparts a stress to the neighboring ones of the first epitaxial source or drain structures and of the second epitaxial source or drain structures.

Abstract: Isolation schemes for gate-all-around (GAA) transistor devices are provided herein. In some cases, the isolation schemes include changing the semiconductor nanowires/nanoribbons in a targeted channel region between active or functional transistor devices to electrically isolate those active devices. The targeted channel region is referred to herein as a dummy channel region, as it is not used as an actual channel region for an active or functional transistor device. The semiconductor nanowires/nanoribbons in the dummy channel region can be changed by converting them to an electrical insulator and/or by adding dopant that is opposite in type relative to surrounding source/drain material (to create a p-n junction). The isolation schemes described herein enable neighboring active devices to retain strain in the nanowires/nanoribbons of their channel regions, thereby improving device performance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are structures and techniques for device isolation in integrated circuit (IC) assemblies. In some embodiments, an IC assembly may include multiple transistors spaced apart by an isolation region. The isolation region may include a doped semiconductor body whose dopant concentration is greatest at one or more surfaces, or may include a material that is lattice-mismatched with material of the transistors, for example.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include forksheet transistor devices having a dielectric or a conductive spine. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a dielectric spine. A first transistor device includes a first vertical stack of semiconductor channels spaced apart from a first edge of the dielectric spine. A second transistor device includes a second vertical stack of semiconductor channels spaced apart from a second edge of the dielectric spine. An N-type gate structure is on the first vertical stack of semiconductor channels, a portion of the N-type gate structure laterally between and in contact with the first edge of the dielectric spine and the first vertical stack of semiconductor channels. A P-type gate structure is on the second vertical stack of semiconductor channels, a portion of the P-type gate structure laterally between and in contact with the second edge of the dielectric spine and the second vertical stack of semiconductor channels.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are based on extending a nanocomb transistor architecture to implement gate all around, meaning that a gate enclosure of at least a gate dielectric material, or both a gate dielectric material and a gate electrode material, is provided on all sides of each nanoribbon of a vertical stack of lateral nanoribbons of a nanocomb transistor arrangement. In particular, extension of a nanocomb transistor architecture to implement gate all around, proposed herein, involves use of two dielectric wall materials which are etch-selective with respect to one another, instead of using only a single dielectric wall material used to implement conventional nanocomb transistor arrangements. Nanocomb-based transistor arrangements implementing gate all around as described herein may provide improvements in terms of the short-channel effects of conventional nanocomb transistor arrangements.

Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having self-aligned source or drain undercut for varied widths are described. In an example, a structure includes first and second vertical arrangements of nanowires above a substrate, the nanowires of the second vertical arrangement of nanowires having a horizontal width greater than a horizontal width of the nanowires of the first vertical arrangement of nanowires. First and second gate stack portions are over the first and second vertical arrangements of nanowires, respectively. First embedded epitaxial source or drain regions are at ends of the first vertical arrangement of nanowires and extend beneath dielectric sidewalls spacers of the first gate stack portion by a first distance. Second embedded epitaxial source or drain regions are at ends of the second vertical arrangement of nanowires and extend beneath the dielectric sidewalls spacers of the second gate stack portion by a second distance substantially the same as the first distance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are structures and techniques for device isolation in integrated circuit (IC) assemblies. In some embodiments, an IC assembly may include multiple transistors spaced apart by an isolation region. The isolation region may include a doped semiconductor body whose dopant concentration is greatest at one or more surfaces, or may include a material that is lattice-mismatched with material of the transistors, for example.

Abstract: Techniques and methods related to strained NMOS and PMOS devices without relaxed substrates, systems incorporating such semiconductor devices, and methods therefor may include a semiconductor device that may have both n-type and p-type semiconductor bodies. Both types of semiconductor bodies may be formed from an initially strained semiconductor material such as silicon germanium. A silicon cladding layer may then be provided at least over or on the n-type semiconductor body. In one example, a lower portion of the semiconductor bodies is formed by a Si extension of the wafer or substrate. By one approach, an upper portion of the semiconductor bodies, formed of the strained SiGe, may be formed by blanket depositing the strained SiGe layer on the Si wafer, and then etching through the SiGe layer and into the Si wafer to form the semiconductor bodies or fins with the lower and upper portions.

Abstract: Techniques and methods related to strained NMOS and PMOS devices without relaxed substrates, systems incorporating such semiconductor devices, and methods therefor may include a semiconductor device that may have both n-type and p-type semiconductor bodies. Both types of semiconductor bodies may be formed from an initially strained semiconductor material such as silicon germanium. A silicon cladding layer may then be provided at least over or on the n-type semiconductor body. In one example, a lower portion of the semiconductor bodies is formed by a Si extension of the wafer or substrate. By one approach, an upper portion of the semiconductor bodies, formed of the strained SiGe, may be formed by blanket depositing the strained SiGe layer on the Si wafer, and then etching through the SiGe layer and into the Si wafer to form the semiconductor bodies or fins with the lower and upper portions.

Abstract: Metallization structures under a semiconductor device layer. A metallization structure in alignment with semiconductor fin may be on a side of the fin opposite a gate stack. Backside and/or frontside substrate processing techniques may be employed to form such metallization structures on a bottom of a semiconductor fin or between bottom portions of two adjacent fins. Such metallization structures may accompany interconnect metallization layers that are over a gate stack, for example to increase metallization layer density for a given number of semiconductor device layers.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is described that includes a first semiconductor layer conformally disposed on at least a portion of a source region and a second semiconductor layer conformally disposed on at least a portion of a drain region between the source/drain regions and corresponding gate spacers. The semiconductor layer can prevent diffusion and/or segregation of dopants from the source and drain regions into the gate spacers of the gate stack. Maintaining the intended location of dopant atoms in the source region and drain region improves the electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device including the external resistance (“Rext”) of the semiconductor device.